Envirofone links device trade-ins to gorilla conservation in ZSL partnership

Envirofone is donating at least five per cent from device trade-ins to gorilla  conservation programmes under a partnership with the Zoological Society of London.

The trade-in and refurbished device specialist has launched a dedicated trade-in scheme with ZSL (Zoological Society of London), the conservation charity behind London Zoo.

Consumers trading in phones, tablets and laptops through the scheme will receive the normal value for their devices. Envirofone will make an additional donation equivalent to at least five per cent of the trade-in value to ZSL’s gorilla conservation work.

The partnership is intended to highlight the connection between consumer electronics, demand for raw materials and habitat loss.

Materials used in smartphones and other electronics include cobalt, much of which is sourced from central Africa. Envirofone and ZSL say extending the working life of devices can help reduce demand for newly extracted materials while generating funds for conservation.

Envirofone says it has processed more than 30,000 direct consumer trade-ins over the past 12 months, paying almost £3 million to consumers.

It claims more than 90 per cent of devices it receives are refurbished and returned to use, avoiding an estimated 9,500 tonnes of CO2e during the past year.

Customers can participate through a dedicated Envirofone/ZSL trade-in page, including visitors to London Zoo.

Envirofone CTO Sam Hargreaves said the relationship between the mobile industry and gorilla conservation was closer than many consumers realised.

“Every device we take back is one less phone sitting in a drawer, and one less reason to mine the materials that go into creating a new one.

“Partnering with ZSL felt like an obvious fit for us. Gorilla conservation and the tech industry are more connected than most people realise.”

Envirofone CEO Matt Green said the scheme was intended to give consumers an additional reason to trade in unused technology.

“We want our customers to see that trading in their old device can help make a real difference to the world we live in, as well as put extra money back into their own pocket.”

ZSL head of corporate partnerships Daniel Murray said the partnership would highlight the relationship between technology consumption and the natural world while raising money for conservation programmes.

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